Exercising machine



NOV. 6, 1934. H. CASLER ET AL 1,980,036

EXERGISING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1933 L yfig 77 INVENTORS MQW ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 6, 1934 PATENT OFFICE EXERCISING MACHINE Herman Casler, Canastota,

and Theodore Williams, Syracuse, N'. Y'.

Application January 28,

5 Claims.

Our invention relates to exercising machines, and more particularly to that type of machine in which the operator simulates the movements of a person, rowing a boat, one of the objects being to provide a simple and compact structure which can be used in the home as well as in the gymna-r slum, the apparatus being designed to develop all of those muscles that `would ordinarilybe used in rowing.

Another object of the invention is to provide an exercising machine of simple and economical construction which can be readily folded into compact form .for storage or shipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tension element composed of a plurality of rubber bands whereby the tension of the said element may be conveniently varied to suit the strength of the operator by adding to or decreasing the number of bands.

Another object of the invention is to provide fastening means for the tension element which is not liable to become loose and fly back toward the operator while the machine is in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the rubber bands comprising the tension element are free to creep about their fastening means thus reducing wear and danger of breakage to the minimum.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the description proceeds, it being understood that various changes in the embodiment of the invention illustrated may be made Within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the exercising machine ready for use;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the exercising machine assembled for packing;

Figure 3 is a detail view on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detail view on line 4-4 of Figure l;

Figures 5 and 6 are detail views of the means for attaching the rubber bands to the movable seat;

Figure 7 is a detail view of handle and foot rest attachment for securing the bands in place;

Figure 8 is a detail showing how the bands or straps can be readily removed from or applied to the foot rest; and

Figure 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of Figure 7.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 denotes a ladder like frame work comprising 1933, Serial N0. 654,034

preferably wooden side rails or members 2 and 2' connected together at intervals by preferably round spacing and bracing rods 3, pref,- erably three in number, one at each end and one intermediate the ends of the rails. A plurality of spaced boards or strips 4 connected at their opposite ends to the top edges of the rails adjacent the front ends thereof provide a platform 4' for supporting the operator when exercising in a standing position. A rest or abutment 7 for the feet is pivotally mounted in the front end of the frame. Thusr a pair of upwardly and forwardly disposed members 8 are secured to opposite rails 2 and 2' by bolts 9 or other suitable pivots, and these members are connected together by a cross strip 10. The foot rest 7, can be readily folded inwardly between the side rails for convenience in shipping and storing, and preferably the members 8 are of the same Width as the side rails. The forward spacing rod 3 serves as a stop for the foot rest in either of its positions. One end of members 8 is beveled or cut on an angle, as at 12, to the longitudinal axis'of the said members to permit adjustment and to insure engagement with the spacing bar or stop 3 when the members 8 are in folded position.

A wheeled carriage or seat 13 removably mounted for sliding movement on the upper edges of the rails 2, 2' includes a pair of longitudinally disposedV housings 14 and 14 in which Wheels 15, rotatably mounted on axles 16 are housed. Spaced strips or boards 17'connecting the housings together provide the necessary seating surface for the operator when simulating rowing. It should be noted that the lower edges of the sides or flanges of housing 14 are flush with or slightly above the top of rail 2 whereas the sides or flanges of housing 14 extend below the top of rails 2' and in sliding engagement with the sides of this rail. The carriage is thus kept in alinement with the rails and at the same time danger of binding due to the warping of the wooden rails is reduced to a minimum. The length of the housings 14, 14 of the carriage 13 and the width of the seatingsurface of the latter is less than the distance between the rails 2 and 2 whereby the carriage may be removed and placedbetween and in' nested relation with respect to the rails preparatory to packing the apparatus for storage or shipment.

The carriage or movable seat 13 is connected to the platform 4 by means of a resistance or tension element 18 preferably composed' of a plurality of individual loosely arranged endless rubber bands 19, in the present instance, five in number. Thus adjacent strips or boards 4 and 17 of the platform 4 and the seat or carriage 13 respectively are provided with grooves 20 and 21 in their lower faces, in which the legs 22 of elongated substantially U-shaped heavy wire fastening members 23-23 are secured. The eX- tremities of the legs 22 of the fastening members are bent inwardly as at 24, to hook around a pair of headed screws 25--25' which screws extend from the front and rear side edges of the innermost end boards 1 and 17 respectively to and transversely through the grooves 20 and 21. The bands 19 are looped loosely around the depending members 23-23 there beingample space between the body of these members and the bottom faces of the adjacent supporting boards 4 and 17 for the bands to freely rotatev or creep during ordinary use of the machine.`

This creeping or shifting movement constantly presents fresh surfaces of the rubber bands to` the fastening members and consequently the tendency to .chafe the bands by continued 'operation is eliminated. The tension of the element 18 as a whole may be varied to suit the strength of the operator by merely increasing or decreasing the number of individual bands employed. This adjustment can'be quickly made is subjected to even greater stresses than re-` sistance element 18, the former being more constantly in use than thelatter, it is desirable that the bands 27 be mounted for convenient replacement. Thus the cross strip 10 of foot rest 7, is provided with two spaced vertically disposed openings 30 through which `the legs 31, of si stantially U-shaped fastening member 32, are inserted and bent at right angles to prevent accidental displacement. The individual bands 27 are loosely looped at one end around the mem'- ber 32 and at their other end around a fastening member 33 in turn secured .to the pull handle 28. This handle is formed with a longitudinally extending slot 34 into which the angularly bent legs 34 of member 38 extend, screws 35 being employed for an obvious purpose. It should be noted that the bands 27, like bands 19, are free to creep about the fastening members thus reducingchang to a minimum.

The openings 30 are sufficiently large to permit individual bands 27, being forced therethrough and inserted over one end of fastening member 32, see Figure 8, and then pulled to Figure 7 dotted line position without the necessity'of` removing the member 32. Consequently one or more bands may be conveniently replaced vor added. As the member 32 is permanently secured in place there is no danger of the operator neglectingk to tighten up a screw or the like kafter replacing a worn band. This construction is of great importance because the face of the operator is generally in the direct line of travel which a loosened part would take should it y loose.

Our apparatus is capable of use for many forms of exercise. For instance the operator while Standing upon the platform 4' facing toward the front of the machine bends forwardly from the hips, grasps the pull handle 28 and then resumes an erect position, or the operator may, while standing on the platform and facing the rear of the machine, grasp the pull handle with the hands behind the back. The principal method of use, however is for the operator to occupy the sliding seat or carriage with the feet braced 'against the foot rest or abutment and with the hands gripping the pull handle, in which position the ordinary rowing movements may be followed. I-Iavingthus described our invention, what wve claim is:

1 .In an exercising machine, a device for resiliently connecting two members together, an

lendless resilient resistance member, fastening means respectively connected to said two members, `said resistance member being looped at opposite ends to said fastening means, and the portion of said fastening means to which said resistance member is looped being normally spaced relatively to said two members to permit creeping movement of said resistance member and to facilitateV assembly thereof.

2. In an exercising machine, securing means comprising a part formed with spaced openings o f 'substantial size,a fastening member comprising a body portion having legs loosely extending through said' openings and permanently clinched to said part, a resistancevv element comprising a plurality of endless flexible bands, said bands being looped around' the body of said fastening means with freedom of creeping movement.

3. In an exercising machine, a device for resilientlyconnecting two members together including a pair of fasteners, resilient means looped around said fasteners, one of said two members having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein for the reception of one of said fasteners and means for securing said last named member in said slot.

4. In an exercising machine, means for resiliently connecting two members together comprising a pair of fastening members having a body portion .and inwardly bent leg portions, means for permanently connecting said leg portions to said two members, and resilient endless bands looped-around the body of said fastening members with freedom for creeping movement.

5. In an exercising machine, means for resiliently connecting two members together, com-.

prising a part formed with spaced openings, a fastening member having legs extending through said openings and permanently locking said member to said partA with freedom for limited longitudinal movement with respect to said part, and a resistance element comprising a plurality of endless resilient bands, said bands being looped around the body of said fastening member with freedom for creeping movement.

HERMAN CASLER. THEODORE WILLIANIS lli) 

